The newly discovered nanoscale cone particles were shown to consist of an ordered stacking of seamless conical shells. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and nano-beam electron diffraction permitted the orientation of the BN hexagonal rings to be determined. In most cases, the results were consistent with a model involving orderly stacked 240º disclinations. This was the smallest cone geometry which ensured the presence of B-N bonds alone. One case in which the nanoscale cone consisted of 300º disclinations was identified; thus implying that structures which contained line defects of non B-N bonds could form.

Structure of Boron Nitride Nanoscale Cones - Ordered Stacking of 240º and 300º Disclinations L.Bourgeois, Y.Bando, W.Q.Han, T.Sato: Physical Review B, 2000, 61[11], 7686-91